14. End of lingering – 13
It was a very beautiful moonlit night that day.
There was not a single cloud in the sky, and only the stars and moon filled the dark night sky. And the full moon, located at the highest point among them, was in the shape of a canopy that seems to embrace the sky itself through the light it shines on itself.
Amidst the dreamy scene where the neat yet pure white moonlight was shyly lighting up the night, Aria and I were slowly moving towards the mid-slope of the mountain behind us, where we had promised to go see the moon with others. .
“I think the weather is good for moon viewing, Lord Cain.”
“It’s exactly what you said. aria.”
It was as Arya said. The weather was close to early summer at the moment, but the current temperature was uncharacteristic of summer and felt a bit chilly, so I thought it would be okay not to worry about the sweltering heat of the tropical night. Literally, it couldn’t have been a really good night for all of us to go out on a picnic and look at the moon.
“Come to think of it, it seems like it’s been a while since I’ve been walking alone at night with Cain-nim.”
Arya gave me a cute smile and said that in a somewhat thrilling voice, and then I realized that I hadn’t spent time alone with Arya since the festival in Ystad.
…At the same time, I was suddenly aware of how indifferent and pitiful I was. It’s important to handle the duties of the duchy, but it’s equally important to spend time with the people who stay by my side and build memories, but I’ve been so focused on work lately that I’ve forgotten even such a simple fact. seems to have been
“After all the urgent work is done, how about going somewhere quiet next time just the two of us?”
When I said that while carefully stroking Aria’s white hair, which seemed to be made of melted platinum, Aria gave a blank expression for a moment, then gave a bright smile as if a flower was in full bloom and nodded calmly.
“…please, just call me anytime.”
As we walked up the mountain path while having such a good conversation, we arrived at the meeting place located halfway up the mountain before we knew it.
“Cain! Here it is, here!”
There, Bianca, Iris, and Ariel were sitting on their seats, as if they had already arrived a long time before us and were waiting.
“Why are you so late? It must have started one step ahead of us, but to show up like this after quite some time has passed.”
As Iris complained to me, Ariel, who was next to me, frowned and glared at Iris.
“It may be late. Apparently, it took some time to go for a walk around the neighborhood with Aria, but I’m just worried that if you nag Cain like that, his stress will not be relieved, but will rather build up.”
“Oh, did you regain your energy? Even in the morning, the grass was dead like a withered leaf, but by evening, it seems that the mouth that spits out white noises has recovered.”
“…Both of you, please don’t argue for today.”
I came here to play today to put everything down and relax, but I didn’t want to see the scene growling at each other until I came here.
“Anyway, I can see why my father recommended this place to Bianca. Certainly, it is a very good place for moon viewing.”
In fact, this back mountain behind the Duke of Estelle was the first place I had ever climbed and seen, but it must have been a place with such a beautiful view that I would regret not visiting it at least once.
The place where we were currently sitting was near the cliff halfway up the mountain. Although the surrounding area was rather cramped, it had a great view, and it was a place where we could see every corner of the nature of the Duke of Estelle.
Also, near where we were sitting, trees were densely covering all sides as if there was fog, but strangely, the trees did not cover the sky, so even if you lift your head a little, you can enjoy the moon and stars filling the night sky. It was in a state where there was no hindrance whatsoever.
“Now, watching the moon is good, but isn’t eating more important than that? Cain, sit here and see. I worked hard to make a lunch box for you.”
At the same time as she tapped the floor with her hand as if it were a signal to sit next to her, Iris took out a cute lunch box from the basket next to her seat and held it out to me.
It was a lunch box consisting of a sandwich that was cut to eat with one hand, rolled egg, and a pretty appetizing menu consisting of fresh seasoned vegetables.
“By the way, this is a lunchbox I made myself.”
The princess, who was strutting and talking to me, had bandages on both of her fingers.
…I don’t know if it’s possible for a warrior who has reached the master’s level to get hurt with a kitchen knife, but Iris, who has never been in the kitchen in her entire life, made me a lunchbox, so I express my gratitude. I couldn’t help it.
“Poop, low. This is a very, very cute lunch box.”
…If it weren’t for Bianca, who laughed in a rather hoarse voice as she stared at the lunch box Iris held out to me.
“Made with greens, egg rolls, and sandwiches… Do you know what these three things have in common? It is a humble menu that even a beginner can make with just a kitchen knife, and that dogs and cows can follow.”
Saying that, Bianca sighed at Iris, whose face was crumpled, and smiled triumphantly. Soon, she brought me fried pork, rolls of wraps, and pancakes with applesauce from the basket. Certainly, compared to the lunch boxes made by Iris, it couldn’t have been more colorful lunch boxes with menus that required a lot of work.
“…I-I didn’t bring anything…”
Aria looked at the lunch box Iris and Bianca had made, then looked at me with a white face.
“…Heh, that’s pathetic. aria. Do you not know that good cooking is the most correct criterion for judging a good wife? There are women who couldn’t prepare a lunchbox at all, so this match can’t be anything but my victory.”
And Ariel, who was staring blankly at Iris, who was making a triumphant expression while looking at Aria, muttered something in a daze voice as if she had just remembered it.
“Ah, actually, I also packed a small lunch.”
Saying that, Ariel began to take out food one by one from the basket she had placed next to her. From simple salads to potato croquettes, stewed fish, and mille-feuille and wine for dessert, Ariel’s basket was pouring endlessly delicious food as if it were magic.
“…..”
“…..”
“…..”
Bianca, Iris, and Aria shut their mouths like clams at the unbelievable sight.
“Awesome. You mean you prepared so many dishes in that short amount of time?”
In response to my admiration, not my admiration, Ariel answered me with a small smile.
“Cooking is my hobby. Also, as Cain knows very well, it seems that his skills have naturally improved as he cooks a lot at home for his own reasons.”
In response to Ariel’s answer, Iris took a look at Ariel’s prepared food with shaky eyes, then looked at the lunchbox in her hand with a stupid look.
“…Well, to be honest, things like cooking aren’t that important. If you were the hostess of a ducal family, how many times would you have to cook for yourself? If I ever need to go back to Jedo Island next time, I’ll bring a chef from the imperial palace to the duke’s house. I’m sure that’s the clear path for everyone in the Estel family.”
Suddenly, Iris uttered completely different words.
“Then why don’t we all sit down and eat? We prepared enough food for everyone to eat.”
Thus, rather than viewing the moon, which was the original purpose, a food board was opened to share food that each other made. Well, what if this place turns into a picnic atmosphere? Anyway, it’s nothing more than a visit here to put everything down for a while and enjoy a rest.
With that in mind, I thoughtlessly picked up one of Ariel’s mille-feuilles and put it in my mouth. Surprisingly, it was delicious. that’s huge too.
“…her. Are you sure Ariel made it herself? I don’t think there’s much difference from the desserts we ate at Jedo’s banquet hall.”
In response to my admiring compliment, Bianca and Iris also picked up a mille-feuille and put it in their mouth as if they couldn’t hide their curiosity. And a second later, the girls made a complicated expression with a mixture of admiration and resentment on their faces.
“…Cain.”
“Yes, lower.”
“…Can you please forget the fact that I brought a packed lunch today?”
Iris, who said such a thing with her face dyed red, looked more cute than I could have imagined. It was because I never imagined that she would have such an aspect to her, who always shows only a solemn and stiff expression.
“it’s okay. Isn’t that the lunchbox you prepared with great care? I can’t treat such a valuable lunch box carelessly, so please give it to me quickly.”
When I said that while smiling, then Iris handed me a lunch box with an attitude that seemed like it couldn’t be helped. And then, Bianca, as if feeling a bit more at ease, unpacks the food she has packed next to the food Ariel has packed.
Thus, a friendly atmosphere was created where everyone shared the food they had prepared and watched the moon and stars rising in the night sky.
Perhaps because they had the beautiful moonlight shining brightly in the night sky right in front of their eyes, there was no fierce exchange of words as usual between the women, but ordinary conversations going on and on. Well, it seems like there are still some undesirable feelings toward each other, but I think that’s a problem that time will solve.
Although, ‘the current me’ was not a love that started voluntarily, and it was a love that the women around me arbitrarily requested based on their memories before returning, the person who finally decided to accept their love was none other than myself.
It’s not a promise I made, but if one day I made up my mind to make those women happy, I think I have the responsibility to make them happy. No matter what the process was, it is clear that the present me also sincerely loves those women.
Everyone came from a world where they were the protagonists, so they don’t like each other, and sometimes there will be a bit of a creak, but I think it’s all a problem that time will solve.
It wasn’t an idea I came up with, but I think it was a good idea to have everyone sit together and have a picnic, so it’s not bad to set aside time for a picnic next time-
But, that was the time.
“Wook-”
While talking with everyone, Iris suddenly vomited.
“Why is that? Did you try to put something in your mouth that you can’t eat?”
“…No, it’s not like that. I don’t know, but suddenly something rumbles inside, a nauseous feeling, woo-“
While saying that, Iris repeatedly retched.
That moment-
I realized instinctively. Why is Iris gagging right now?
I involuntarily turned my head to the side where Ariel was sitting.
…Her face was completely white.